You know what they say about perfectly laid plans... Enjoy :)
"Hi, Papa!"
Soul was happy it was just her voice twittering over the phone rather than opening the door.
"No, it's been nice," Maka continued to chirp. "We had the Halloween party, then our anniversary dinner, and as we speak he's in the kitchen cooking."
He loved the bragging quality in her voice, letting it strengthen him as he continued to fuss over pots.
"Ah, well, I'll get the birthday present after dinner," a deliciously wistful sigh broke her lips which was music to his ears, "but he's taking me away during Thanksgiving Recess."
The pause was longer than expected after that line and Soul found himself leaning towards the hallway, ears open.
"Papa, don't be stupid," she had lowered her voice for the chastising. "It's not like I'm skipping out on Christmas again. I'm sorry I won't be around for you to burn a turkey breast, but this is important." Her huffing continued as Soul was sure Spirit was listing injuries. "I told you, it's important. I… Papa, I just really want to go, alright? So don't make a fuss. It means a lot to me."
The muscles in his stomach trembled and Soul had to stop himself from rushing into the hallway to grab hold of her, give her a kiss or something, anything that would let her know it meant just as much to him. Because I'm going to ask you. I'm going to ask you that question that I've wanted to for a while and I'm hoping the only answer you can give is yes. Fuck, Maka, give me a yes. He clutched into the counter instead, waiting for the end of the conversation.
"No, I haven't heard from Mama yet." And just like that the elation fluctuated into displeasure, his only choice to let the breath hiss between his teeth.
When Tsubaki had told him Maka waited by the phone, Soul had been sure it was some kind of exaggeration. Instead, it was too close for comfort, Maka taking the day for her birthday not to spend it pampering herself and being spoiled, but sitting around the house, anticipating the trill of the phone.
"Papa, please don't. She will call," Maka pressed.
Spirit, that would be the first time I'd ever agree with you. Call her and get her to give her daughter her due. Soul ground a fist into the counter.
"Alright, Papa, yes, next week. And you know I'm happy you called, OK? I love you." There was a pause before the click of the phone. He could hear her breathing, trying to bring herself down before her footsteps started for the kitchen.
Soul completely ruined trying to look like he hadn't been listening, meeting her in the doorway with two hands eager to grab her waist and pull her in. "Don't cry," he murmured into her hair as he clutched her tightly.
"Who said I was crying?" The warble in her voice was betraying her as her fingers played with the fabric at his back.
"Nobody, just a warning," he murmured. "Though, not that I have much of a threat to go with it. Won't take away your presents and you'll still get dinner."
Maka let out a trembling laugh, "Why would I be crying anyway? I have everything right here."
"That's cute, but you don't have to lie to boost my ego," he muttered as he ran his fingers through her hair. "How often doesn't she call?"
"It's a fifty-fifty shot," she sighed.
His hand went firmly to the back of her neck, tangling in her hair there to coax her to tilt her head back. "What can I do?"
"First, make sure dinner's not burning." She put her hands firmly on his chest, pushing him back and turning him back towards the oven. Even though he resisted, she got to his back, wrapping her arms around him again so she could press her cheek to his back. "Then just tell me nice things."
"Nice things?" Soul pondered this as he continued at the arrangement on the stove.
Maka was leeching the warmth from him, trying to steady her heart with the best of his. "Kind of like your chatter just without the undressing."
"Huh," Soul laughed. "Not sure that's how it works. Your body is usually the best inspiration."
"I'll count that as nice," Maka giggled.
"You should," Soul emphasized with a pat to her hand. "Remember that first time on your bed? Fuck, I was ready to list every last body part, fingers to toes, since every last inch of you is what I want. Not to mention your fingers through my hair still drives me wild."
"You're ridiculous," she murmured but squeezed him tighter.
"What?" Soul balked as he started turning off the burners. "You telling me there's nothing I still do that drives you wild? Please tell me we're not in some boring phase." That beg was playful but in his mind still half true.
She sighed, playfully trying to produce annoyance, "You're fishing for a compliment."
"So what if I am?" he shot back.
Maka squeezed him again. "When you put your hand at the small of my back. Like at the museum, you still do it every time no matter what and I… I can't imagine any other way to walk beside you. Hand holding is barely enough."
"See? Was that so hard?" He let a slow sigh out as he leaned back into her. "I promise I'll always do that."
"I promise I'll always do this," she replied quickly as her hand reached up and her fingers tangled in his hair.
"Promise I'll always love you, fingers to toes."
She laughed, "Seems hard to promise."
"Nah, it's too easy. Give me something hard to promise."
There was a dangerous pause as her arms loosened, giving him the option to turn but he stood frozen. "Promise me you won't forget about me."
"Maka…" There was no fear large enough to stop him from coming face to face with her, his fingers instantly moving to catch the tears on her cheeks. "I told you something hard. That's even easier than all the rest."
"It doesn't seem too hard to do," she murmured as her lips trembled.
"Oh, Maka…" The only thing containing his anger was the sorrow, too busy trying to find the best way to stitch her heart back together even though part of him wanted to explode. Soul had always felt Catherine was cruel but at least she paid attention, gave him his due even if it was to berate him for each choice. This was worse, the absence, the hole where there should be love.
"You won't, you can't." She cupped her hands over his, pressing them tightly to her cheeks.
"I definitely won't, and of course I fucking can't," he muttered before pulling her lips to his. "Just don't even think about that." He paused for another lingering kiss, only broken by the hiccups of air after her sobs. "Please, Maka," he knew he was begging as he breathed out across her lips. "That's the last thing I want you to think about. If it helps, I…" I've got a ring hiding in my sock drawer with your fucking name on it and I can do it right now. I can give you that promise because I'll never forget you. I'd never want to.
As he was swallowing again, feeling the dry click as the anxiety took him, the phone stirred from the hallway again. Those wide green eyes opened, blinking at him for a moment before the sound hit again and she tapped his hands. "One second."
"Yeah." He released her, letting his hands fall uselessly at his sides. Or I could chicken out and let you answer the phone. "Damnit," he muttered under his breath as her feet sounded down the hallway.
"Hello?" Her voice was hopeful with only a hint of sniffles. "Mama! Hi!"
Soul felt a rush of relief at the word. He left dinner on the stove and walked after her, putting a gentle hand at the small of her back. Maka threw an achingly huge smile over her shoulder to him. Spirit, if you did this, I actually owe you one. Hopefully, I never find out.
"No, just allergies," she lied uneasily and Soul flexed his fingers against her shirt. "I'm fine, really. Just something sweet. Soul was being, well, Soul. It's a good cry, Mama." That lie was better and obviously went over more convincingly but while Soul was pleased with the content he wasn't with the idea that Maka couldn't tell that woman how much she'd hurt her, how much the past stuck with her. "Oh, Mama, really?" That was drenched into a barely reigned in excitement and Soul leaned forward, bordering on eavesdropping. "I mean, of course, I'd love for you to visit."
Again, Spirit, if you did this, I owe you. He could only imagine the anticipation building in her, the deluge of joy starting to bubble at the idea of more than a phone call.
"But, Mama…" Maka's voice warbled hesitantly, her eyes flicking over her shoulder to Soul. "No, I can't. We won't be home since Soul's made a surprise trip for my birthday and-" He watched her shoulders sink. "No, I understand, I know your schedule's not exactly flexible…"
A never-ending string of curses started rattling in his brain. Maka dared to glance back at him again, her teeth worrying at her bottom lip, and this time he caught her chin. He gestured to her, sticking his pointer up.
"Could you hold on one second, Mama?" Maka slowly slipped her hand over the receiver before his name came out of her mouth as an aching sigh, "Soul…"
"I'll reschedule." He tilted her chin up to ensure her eyes couldn't leave his. "The trip can wait. Tell your mom we'll see her for Thanksgiving." Maka opened her mouth quickly and he knew the first thing off of her tongue was going to be an argument so he used that floating finger to press against her lip. "Not taking no for an answer. Surprise can wait."
With a quaking breath, Maka dropped her hand from the receiver as Soul removed his finger. "Mama, why don't you come for Thanksgiving, like you said. We'll make it work." Her eyebrows were furrowing at him, the smile and joy completely disappeared as she continued to nibble at her lip.
Soul pressed his lips to her forehead, half for her comfort but also to hide the frustration on his face. If she went on the trip knowing she missed out on her mom, it'll be ruined. That's all she'll think about and I know it. Still, the vexation settled in his gut, churning it. He listened to her mumble through the rest of the conversation as his hands roamed her back. Maka turned from him and when the phone clicked back on its casing he instantly released the words. "It's good your mom's coming."
"Soul…" she sighed.
"Look, I'll be honest," he planted his hands firmly on her shoulders. "I'm, I don't know, disappointed, I guess, but that's what it has to be. You have to see your mom."
"I don't-" Maka cut herself off with a hand to her face.
"You have to," he urged back. "You don't have to tell me for me to know. I get it." He let his hands drift down her arms. "So I'm not arguing. I agree and I'll just have to figure out the rest."
She was silent, but at least her shoulders weren't hunched and he couldn't hear any more sputtering breaths from tears.
"Can you get dinner on the table?" He turned her, those green eyes filled to the brim with something he couldn't read. "I just want to make a few phone calls. I'll be there in a minute."
"Alright," she murmured. Maka hesitated for another second before leaning in and planting a soft kiss on his lips. "Don't take too long."
"Won't." He watched her go before walking into the bedroom, closing the door behind him and digging for his cellphone. He clicked Lizzie's contact and waited through the agonizing rings.
"Soul, hello!" Lizzie was beaming. "How is it? Did she like the dress?"
"Didn't give it to her yet," Soul muttered, another thing put on hold. "Listen, Lizzie…"
"What?" Her voice suddenly went sharp.
"Trip's off. Or at least postponed." It hurt, a fresh wave of anxiety and bitterness rolling in his stomach.
"What?" Her tone should have cracked the phone in his hands. "Did something happen? Is Maka alright? Are you alright?"
He sighed, "All OK, just her mom decided to surprise us. She's coming to visit and it just so happens to be during Thanksgiving Recess."
"Oh," Lizzie withered on the other end. "And there's not changing it? Maka was firm?"
"Maka wasn't firm, I was. Told her to scrap it, her mom was more important," another grumble from his lips.
"Oh, Soul," Lizzie's smile was audible. "You really are a romantic fool."
Soul sucked his teeth in reply as he walked over to the dresser and opened the drawer. His hand reached in, feeling towards the back and the velveteen box. "If I was I wouldn't let anything get in my way of doing this."
"No," Lizzie chided. "Plenty will get in the way because you're always thinking of her first, hence the romantic part. Don't make this rush you. Give it its due time, Soul."
His mind flitted back to the memory of Kilik, the way that it had always been impossible to impose deadlines for them. "Yeah, I guess. You guys want the tickets?"
"Oh, that would be lovely but we're stuck with my parents that week since we promised your parents Christmas," Lizzie mourned.
"Can you have Wes ask Dad? He'll probably love the opportunity to wow Mom," Soul gritted through his teeth.
"Wes will be right on it," Lizzie chimed. "And, darling, again, don't let this derail you. You did the right thing even if it doesn't feel like it right now."
"Yeah, thanks, Lizzie. Bye." He waited for her to echo the sentiment before hanging up and leaving his phone on the top of the dresser. Soul couldn't resist, digging his hand in one more time to feel the box and sigh. Three rubs of his thumb and then he slid the drawer quietly closed and forced himself out of the bedroom. He walked into the living room, expecting her to be sitting and eating but instead Maka was right there as he turned the corner, arms quickly fastening around his waist.
"Thank you," she murmured into his chest.
"Not something you need to thank me for," he whispered back, pressing his lips to her hairline. She just better make this the best damn birthday you've ever had.